unexpected oximeter data after starting cpap

[morezees]

Here's a question for those of you using your own oximeters (or anybody else). I started tracking oximitry data a few weeks before starting cpap. Most of my SpO2 charts showed more or less up & down movement around a fairly level line. I was mostly impressed at how hard it seemed to find any meaning in the slop (in terms of identifying events). Reported ahi's were between 3 and 15.

Posted below are 5 partial sample charts (first 2-3 hrs of night) from my first 1-2 weeks on cpap. They are very similar to all of the pre-cpap ones, except in each one in the first hour, often in the first 15-20 mins, there is a brief, precipitous drop (or 2) in saturation. This has shown up almost every time I've used the oximeter since starting cpap. I would write this off as me messing with the oximeter's finger-thing (especially as I'd swear I was still awake for the early ones) except that it is so consistent. I'm not using the ramp feature.

Just wondering what anybody might make of this. Curious if they could represent machine-induced centrals, except one or two w/in the first hour each night and no others seems odd. Also, they haven't gone away with acclimation to the machine. The only other notable change in the data is the basal SpO2 going up a few points. I was thinking the SpO2 and/or pulse lines would stabilize but not so far. Also, my AHI's on cpap as reported by this software (a couple 6's but mostly 8-12) aren't as good as some numbers I got by moving to the Lazy-Boy. Hmmph. Thanks for any insights.

[Hawthorne]

Your AHI needs to come down below 5 anyway (hopefully lower) -consistently.

Are you getting the AHI figure from Encore Viewer/Pro? I was confused by what you said there.

Your SpO2 stats certainly show your oxygen levels are dropping often. It is probably happening during an Apnea or a Hypoapnea. The bigger drops are probably during Apneas and the lesser drops during hypoapneas. Going below 90 would indicate some kind of apnea/hypoapnea event to me.

Are you comparing Encore Viewer/Pro reports with this to see if there is a connection?

My Oximeter shows SpO2 at 97 or 98 all night long and my AHI is almost always below 1.

Don't know if this is much help but, since I have and use and oximeter at home I commented.

[morezees]

Your AHI needs to come down below 5 anyway (hopefully lower) -consistently.
Are you getting the AHI figure from Encore Viewer/Pro? I was confused by what you said there.

Sorry.. I was referring strictly to ahi's reported by the oximeter software. Don't have the cpap software yet, but the daily lcd numbers, while still jumping around, are always below 10 and mostly below 5. The oximeter software seems to report ahi about 5 points higher than the cpap (M-series Pro) does. It's just confusing that the oximeter seems to be saying the machine is doing almost nothing... Thanks.

[Gerald]

More-Z.....

You need "Viewer" data about your CPAP performance....to go along with your oximeter data.

Based on my experiments, I've found that O2 saturation doesn't hold at 93% or better...unless my AHI is below 2.5.

Everybody thinks that AHI of 5.0 or below is "normal"....but I think that's incorrect.

You need software for your CPAP machine before you can get a clear picture of what's going on.

Gerald

[jules]

is this a contec oximeter?

I found the data to be full of holes - it was a rather expensive toy that wasn't worth the price

[morezees]

is this a contec oximeter?

I found the data to be full of holes - it was a rather expensive toy that wasn't worth the price

Yep, that's the one ( a 60-D). I somewhat agree with you, but I think the software is a much bigger part of the problem than the hardware (though the finger sensor part is way too big, clunky, and uncomfortable, and irritates the skin with heat, light, or pressure or a combo). It concluded that my symptom free and athletic wife had an ahi of 8.7. Errr. Anyway, I think there's ~some~ useful info to be had by comparing its results from night to night.

[Hawthorne]

My oximeter does not give AHI. It just gives oxygen level and pulse rate. That's why I was asking if you got the AHI figure from the Encore Viewer/Pro software because that's where I get my AHI and other data information.

I did not know there was an oximeter that showed AHI. It looks like I am better with the one I have.

Sorry yours is not so accurate.

[OutaSync]

All right, now I'm confused. I have the 60 D and it most certainly does not report AHI. It is a pulse/oximeter. So where are you getting your AHI numbers from?

[morezees]

All right, now I'm confused. I have the 60 D and it most certainly does not report AHI. It is a pulse/oximeter. So where are you getting your AHI numbers from?

Yes, the device measures only pulse and saturation. I am referring to the numbers calculated (for a night's recorded data) by the "SpO2 Review" software that comes with the oximeter. And looking again at the reports I see I was being sloppy in my terminology--the report provides an "Index" which is not called an AHI. The index is based on desaturation events/hour which of course is not a true AHI (but hopefully is correlated). And since we're this deep into it, the software allows you to set parameters and redefine what qualifies as a desaturation event.

Sorry for the confusion.

[jules]

and you bump the gadget and it faultily reports an event

the software leaves tons to be desired

the device leaves tons to be desired if it is like the 50E

oh, maybe I should start a rant

nah - I will keep all my software rants focused on Encore

[OutaSync]

Okay, now I get you. Since you like gadgets, you will love the software that goes with you CPAP. When you combine the information from both charts, you can really start to see what happens to your breathing during your sleep. What Jules is saying is that some of those reported desats in you reports might be artifact (rolling over, jiggling the sensor, etc.)

But you may very well be having sleep onset centrals. Any chance you are taking sleep meds?

[jules]

I am also saying that the contec oximeter is a POS.

[morezees]

. . . some of those reported desats in you reports might be artifact (rolling over, jiggling the sensor, etc.)
But you may very well be having sleep onset centrals. Any chance you are taking sleep meds?

No question there's lots of noise from fidgeting, et al. I was just impressed by those very distinctive patterns that started appearing at the beginning of each night. Actually it's because of all the noise that the pattern sticks out as very consistent. The artifacts are pretty random.

No sleep meds.

I am also saying that the contec oximeter is a POS.

Come on, don't hold back. What do you ~really~ think of it.

Thanks all.

[jules]

the oximeter - POS - doesn't matter what the software is then

I got 2 of the CMS 50E - the second was worse than the first - POS and POS 2 replacement model

[TheDreamer]

So, I shouldn't get the CMS-50E?

The Dreamer.